Printed in Singapore

ifc2

B A S I C C O N T R O L S

Steer left/right

j/l

Accelerate

i

Brake/Reverse

k

Shift up/down

A/Z

(Manual Transmission only)

Reset car after crash R

For more information on game controls, ➤Default Driving Commands on
p. 13.

1

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

INTRODUCTION

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

TAKING A SPIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

SETTING UP THE GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Game Setup Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Options Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

ON THE TRACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3

Default Driving Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Pause Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Race Summary Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

CAREER PLAY

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6

ADDITIONAL GAME MODES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1

Single Race Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Hot Pursuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Knockout Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Tournament Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

LOADING SAVED GAME FILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5

MULTIPLAYER RACING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5

Split Screen Arcade Races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Network (IPX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Network (TCP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Serial Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Multiplayer Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

HOT KEYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0

CREDITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Ready to take it to the next level? Then you’ve come to the right place. Need For
Speed

™

: High Stakes places you in the driver’s seat of some of the world’s most

desirable vehicles. Ever wonder what it would be like to roar down the street in a
Lamborghini Diablo SV or a Porsche 911 Turbo? Well wonder no more as you’ll find
these and many more sweet rides to cruise in.

Then, after you’ve put these bad boys to the test, begin a racing career and enter
a circuit to win cash prizes. With your winnings you can purchase better cars or
upgrade your current ride to create a true dream machine. Then, if you’ve got the guts,
put it all on the line in a battle for pink slips. Clearly, the stakes have never been
higher!

❖

NEW! Licensed Supercars—Race your favorite dream cars.

❖

NEW! Complete In-Game Economy—Win races to earn money, buy new cars, and
customize your exotics.

❖

NEW! High Stakes Racing—Lose the race, lose your car.

❖

NEW! 19 Challenging Courses—Race a variety of exotic locations.

❖

NEW! Real Car Damage—Affects car handling and appearance.

❖

NEW! Multiplayer Racing—Challenge a friend via LAN, Modem, Serial Cable, or
the Internet.

❖

Downloadable Cars—Watch for additional supercars posted on EA’s website, then
download and race the new machines in NFS: High Stakes.

For Need for Speed: High Stakes news and updates, visit the official NFS: High Stakes
website at www.needforspeed.com.

FOR MORE INFO about this and other titles, check out EA on the web at www.ea.com.

ELECTRONIC ARTS RECOMMENDS that drivers always wear seatbelts, observe the law,
and never drive while intoxicated.

2

TAKING A SPIN

Can’t wait to get going? Then quickly hit the road and put one of these supercars to
the test!

To begin a race:
1. From the Game Setup screen, click SINGLE PLAYER ARCADE. The Race Type

overlay appears.

2. Click SINGLE RACE. The Name Entry box appears.

3. Type your name and press e. The Main menu appears.

4. Click RACE. The race loads.

When the announcer counts down “3…2…1…GO!”, hit the accelerator and see what
your machine can do.

SETTING UP THE GAME

GAME SETUP SCREEN

When you load the game, the Game Setup screen appears.

NOTE:

For installing and loading instructions, please see the enclosed
Reference Card.

3

Compete for virtual cash and prizes in
Career Play mode (➤ Career Play on p. 16)

Hone your driving skills in a single player
race of your choice

Go head to head with a competitor
in a two player split screen battle
(➤ Multiplayer Racing on p. 25)

Challenge a friend through a network
connection (➤ Multiplayer Racing
on p. 25)

Access the Load screen (➤ Loading
Saved Game Files

on p. 25)

View the game credits

Access the NFS: High Stakes website

Exit the game

➫

To make a selection from any NFS: High Stakes menu screen, move your cursor to
the menu item and left-click.

❑

For information on specific race types, ➤ Additional Game Modes on p. 21.

NOTE:

Default settings in this manual appear in bold type.

MAIN MENU SCREEN

This is where your Need For Speed race setup begins.

➫

Whenever you see a , click it to access a cascade menu.

Player Car Screen

Transmission

Choose an

AUTOMATIC transmission for no-hassle, accelerate-and-steer driving or a

MANUAL transmission where your performance shifting can take advantage of every
ounce of torque.

Color

Paint your machine. In addition to the hues provided, you can select CUSTOM to
create virtually any color you want.

4

Select your car (➤ Player Car Screen
below)

Select a track (➤ Location Screen
on p. 7)

Select the car(s) you want to challenge
(➤ Opponent Car Screen on p. 8)

Adjust driving assistance options
(➤ Driving Assists Screen on p. 8)

Enter a driver name. NFS: High Stakes
tracks your race performance by this
driver name.

Set game options (➤ Options Screen
on p. 9)

Start the game

Return to the Game Setup screen

To create a custom color:
1. Select CUSTOM from the Color cascade menu. The paint palette appears.

2. Move the vertical slider to the general color you want, then use the mouse or arrow

keys to position the color selector on a specific color.

3. Click PREVIEW to view the color on your car.

4. When you’re happy with the final product, click ACCEPT.

Car Compare

Compare your car with others in its class, head-to-head against any model in the
game, or in a group with every car.

❑

Car classes are based on Acceleration and Top Speed performance ratings.

5

Choose a comparison mode

Performance rating bars

Choose a car to contrast
against your own

Return to the Player Car screen

Showcase

Enter the Showcase screen to get an in-depth look at what’s under the hood of your
dream machine.

❑

At the Car Interior screen you can use on-screen tools to move the image in any
direction.

Convertible

Certain cars have a convertible option. Toggle between

TOP UP/TOP DOWN to adjust

your ride.

Car Tuning

Use the sliders to adjust your car setup in each tuning category.

➫

To return the car to its factory settings, click RESET DEFAULTS.

➫

To return to the Player Car menu, click DONE.

Engine Tuning

Tune toward the low end for faster acceleration on tracks
with tighter turns or to the high end for more top speed on
tracks that allow it.

Brake Balance

Tuning to the front creates an understeering car by transferring
weight to the rear during braking. Tune to the rear for an
oversteering car.

Steering Speed

Set this option slower for more gradual turning or quicker for
fast, twitchy steering.

6

Study each machine’s rich history

Take a look in the virtual cockpit

View a photo library of any car

Choose a statistic category

Return to the Player Car screen

Choose a different car

Gear Ratios

Low gear ratios let your car climb through the gears quickly,
spending less time in the slower gears. High gear ratios trade
sluggish starts for top speed.

Suspension

A car with a soft suspension rolls into the turns. A car with
a stiff suspension fights the road but gives you a better feel
for it.

Aerodynamics

Tune lower for more downforce, increasing handling but
reducing speed, or higher for less wind resistance.

Tires

Rain tires move the water to grip the road under wet
conditions. Racing tires have smooth surfaces that stick
to dry roads and slip on wet ones.

NOTE:

Car Tuning only applies to Single Player Arcade races.

Download Car

In addition to the array of cars contained within NFS: High Stakes, you can also find
additional dream machines online.

To Download a Car:
1. Click DOWNLOAD CAR. A prompt appears asking if you want to close the game

and launch your web browser.

2. Click YES to continue. Your internet browser opens to the Need for Speed homepage

where instructions guide you through the download process.

Location Screen

Select track options for your race

Laps

Select the number of laps to race (

2, 4, or 8).

Direction

Toggle to race

FORWARD/BACKWARD.

Mirrored

Toggle

OFF/ON.

Night Driving

Toggle

OFF/ON.

Weather

Toggle

OFF/ON.

Track Records

View a list of your best times for the course.

Start Presentation

View a video summary of track information.

7

Opponent Car Screen

Opponent Skill

Set the skill level for your opponents (AMATEUR,

PRO,

CHAMPION).

Number

Select the number of cars to race against (0–

6, or FULL GRID)

Traffic

Toggle ON/

OFF to play with moving obstacles.

Car Compare

➤ Car Compare on p. 5.

Showcase

➤ Showcase on p. 6.

❑

If you’re racing against a full grid, you can choose to race against a pack of
identical computer cars by choosing a specific car from the Opponent Car Class
menu. You can also choose to race against randomly chosen cars from within a
class by choosing one of the general Car Class options.

NOTE:

The Traffic option is unavailable if the Opponent Number is set to
FULL GRID.

Driving Assists Screen

Driving Assists make it easier to get around the track at high speed. Assists are
available only in Single Race and Hot Pursuit modes.

If you’re new to NFS, these driving assists will help you master the
NFS: High Stakes tracks and race competitively against your friends
in multiplayer modes.

Braking

With the braking assist option ON, your brakes react more
effectively.

Collision Recovery

Set collision recovery ON for faster accident recovery.

Traction

Traction assist keeps your tires from spinning when you
generate excessive torque. This enables the car to hug the
road for faster cornering and quicker starts.

Pursuit

Available in Hot Pursuit mode only. When ON, pressing
the Reset button after you make a bust causes your car
to teleport up to the leader, so you have a good chance
of busting him too.

Damage

Choose the effect that accumulated damage has on your car.
When OFF, damage does not affect your car’s appearance
or handling.

8

OPTIONS SCREEN

Each item listed on the Game Options screen leads to its own screen.

Audio Screen

Menu Music

Set the volume level of menu music.

Racing Music

Set the volume level of in-game music.

Sound Effects

Set the volume level of the sound effects.

Engine Volume

Set the volume level of engine sounds.

Speech Volume

Set the volume level of the announcer.

Music Type

Select to play

GAME MUSIC or insert an AUDIO CD of your

choice to hear your favorite tunes.

Audio Mode

Choose the best sound mode supported by your system.

Racing Tune

Sample and select your favorite song played during a race or
choose

RANDOM.

Menu Tune

Sample and select your favorite song played during the menu
screens or choose

RANDOM.

Audio Test

Run a sound test for your speakers.

Controllers

Access the Controllers menu to view the command button for each racing action. You
can remap the buttons if the default configuration doesn’t feel right with your racing
style.

●

To assign a command button/key, click the action you want to change, then press
the button/key you want to assign to it.

●

To reassign a command to an axis, do one of the following:

Half Axis Assignment Procedure

To assign half the range of an axis to a command:
1. Place the axis control in its center position.

2. Click the action you want to change.

3. Move the axis from its center position to one extreme.

❑

You can assign the other extreme to another command.

9

Full Axis Assignment Procedure

To assign the full range of an axis to a command:
1. Place the axis control all the way to one extreme of its range.

2. Click the action you want to change.

3. Move the axis to the opposite extreme.

●

To reverse the direction, begin again with the axis at the opposite end of its range.

Dead Zone

To expand or reduce your controller’s dead zone, click and
drag the beads in the middle of the axis bars. The dead zone
is the range you can move your controller before it affects
your car’s performance.

Force Feedback

NFS: High Stakes takes full advantage of force feedback
controllers. Move the sliders to adjust the level of feedback
put forth by individual driving forces.

Audio Feedback

Map three numerical keys for audio feedback on your current
race status. This feature is especially helpful when driving
with the HUD (Heads Up Display) turned OFF.

Function Keys

Get familiar with the function key commands that allow you
to change camera angles or toggle some options ON/OFF
during gameplay. You cannot remap function keys.

Pre-Defined Keys

Take the time to learn these useful functions. You cannot
remap the pre-defined keys.

●

To return all options to original settings, click RESET TO DEFAULTS.

Cameras

During a race, you can cycle through four cameras. Use the Camera menu to set your
four favorite angles as the default camera views.

●

To configure camera views, click each camera button to toggle selections, or access
the cascade menus, and click the views you want.

10

Graphics

NFS: High Stakes defaults the Graphics options to the optimum settings for your
computer system. If you want more graphic detail, set the options to the highest levels.
If you want the game to run faster on your computer, try reducing some detail.

Screen Size

For optimum graphics, choose the highest resolution
supported by your video card. Screen sizes followed by (z)
will run, by default, with the Z Buffer option ON.

Triple Buffer

Allows 3D video cards to use more memory and increase
frame rate.

Wide Screen

Toggle

ON to play with wide screen display view.

Car Chrome

Chrome gives your car a brilliant, reflective sheen. Toggle
ON/OFF.

Car Shading

Shading gives depth to your car’s contours. Toggle

ON/OFF.

Car Detail

The higher the detail the more realistic your car’s appearance.
Set

HIGH, MEDIUM, or LOW.

Special Effects

Special effects add a real-world element to the race. Set
HIGH, LOW, or OFF.

Horizon

The horizon completes the landscape. Set

HIGH, LOW, or

OFF.

Advanced Settings

Access a host of extra options.

Gamma Correction

Use the slider to adjust the brightness of your screen.

View Distance

Determines how far the landscape is drawn. With FULL, the
entire landscape appears. With CLOSE, the landscape is
drawn just as you drive into it.

Z Buffer

Set Z Buffer

ON for the smoothest graphics.

View Angle

Choose a NARROW angle to focus the view on your car or
WIDE to bring more landscape into the picture.

Headlights

VERTEX headlights brighten the general area in front of your
car.

PROJECTED headlights focus strong beams of light on

the road, illuminating your path.

Perspective

Adjust the view cone.

Fog

Toggle this special effect

ON/OFF.

Lens Flare

Toggle this special effect

ON/OFF.

11

Heads Up Display

The Heads Up Display, often referred to as the HUD, is the array of gauges on the
screen during the race. Most gauges offer multiple settings, or you can toggle all
gauges OFF to clear your view of the track.

NOTE:

Some gauge settings are available only in certain Screen Layouts.

Load

➤ Loading Saved Game Files on p. 25.

12

Reposition your gauges

Display speed in mph or km/h
on a digital or analog gauge

Display RPMs with a digital or
analog gauge

Gauge the level of
damage to your car

Toggle the map

ON/OFF

Choose what your current lap time is
measured against.

View a summary of opposing racers

Toggle the rear view mirror ON/

OFF

O N T H E T R A C K

DEFAULT DRIVING COMMANDS

This section contains default driving commands assuming that the keyboard is your
controller. If you’re using a different game controller, NFS: High Stakes detects it and
defaults to it. To view or configure your driving commands, select CONTROLLERS from
the Options menu for equivalents.

●

To

accelerate, press i.

Don’t rev the engine too much before the race starts. If your tach is
too high when your car shifts into first, you’ll burn your tires and lose
valuable ground.

●

To

steer left/right, press j/l.

●

To

brake, press k. To back up, hold k after your car comes to a complete stop.

NOTE:

To set the Auto-Reverse function, you must map the setting on the
Controllers menu. ➤ Controllers on p. 9.

●

To pull the

handbrake, press

. Use this for tight hairpins and power

braking at high speeds.

Just for fun, you can use the hand brake to pull spinouts and 360°’s.

13

Click an opponent’s name or map
icon to view the race from that
driver’s point of view. To return
to your car’s view, right-click
anywhere.

●

To

shift up/down, press A/Z.

●

To cycle through camera

views, press C.

●

To

look behind you, press and hold B.

●

To honk your

horn, press H. (In Hot Pursuit mode, this triggers your siren.)

●

To cycle your

headlights ON, OFF, HIGHBEAMS, press L.

●

To quickly

reset your car after a crash, press R.

Hot Pursuit Controls

The following commands are only used for Hot Pursuit mode. ➤ Additional Game
Modes

p. 21.

●

To call a

wingman, press W.

●

To cycle to the

next cop, press N.

●

To

jump to any cop car, press J.

●

To drop a

spike strip, press S.

●

To direct your wingman set up a

road block, press K.

PAUSE MENU

You can access the Pause menu at anytime to take a break or adjust options.

●

To pause a race, press s. The Pause menu appears.

Audio

Use the sliders to adjust all sound options.

Controls

View and/or remap driving controls. ➤ Controllers on p. 9.

Cameras

Assign the camera views. ➤ Cameras on p. 10.

Graphics

Set graphics options. ➤ Graphics on p. 11.

Heads Up Display

Customize the on-screen gauges. ➤ Heads Up Display
on p. 12.

Continue

Get back to the racing action.

Quit

Abort the current race. (Choose to go to the Main menu, the
Post Race screen, or the Windows

®

operating system.)

While your race is paused, you can use the function keys to get a good view of the
game environment. This is especially useful if you want to adjust Graphics options
from the Pause menu.

14

●

To hide the Pause menu, press ¡.

●

To rotate the Pause screen image left/right, press and hold ™/¢.

●

To pause/resume automatic Pause screen rotation, press £.

RACE SUMMARY SCREEN

After a race, an automatic replay appears followed by the Race Summary screen.

●

To save a replay of the race, click SAVE REPLAY, type a name to label it (your
player name is the default), and press e. To load the replay, ➤ Loading Saved
Game Files

on p. 25.

●

To save a ghost of your race, click SAVE GHOST, type a name to label it (your
player name is the default), and press e. To load the ghost, ➤ Loading Saved
Game Files

on p. 25.

The ghost is your performance during the previous race. When you load a ghost, you
run the same race again with a translucent car mirroring the line you drove. In this
way, you can race against yourself.

NOTE:

You cannot collide with the ghost car.

●

To view the replay of the race again, click VIEW REPLAY. The replay follows your
car from start to finish incorporating a variety of TV-presentation cameras.

15

Click a header to organize the drivers
by that category

Cycle results and records

Move the cursor over a time or speed
for a lap-by-lap breakdown

Go to the Options menu (➤p. 9)

Return to the Starting line
for an identical race

Return to the Main Menu screen

Quit the game

C A R E E R P L A Y

One of the new features of NFS: High Stakes is Career Play, which lets you enter
a racing circuit and earn virtual cash and prizes. Each circuit is made up of a specific
race type: Tournament, Knockout, or High Stakes. (➤ Additional Game Modes on
p. 21.) The better you perform in the circuit, the more cash you earn. This cash can
then be used to upgrade any cars in your garage or purchase higher-performance
vehicles.

To begin a racing career:
1. Select CAREER PLAY from the Game Setup screen. The Name Entry Select/Create

Profile box appears.

2. Type your name and press e. The Showroom screen appears.

NOTE:

You must purchase a car before you are allowed to begin your career.

Showroom Screen

The Showroom screen is the place to buy a dream car to compete with.

16

View a menu of available cars

View a complete account summary

Your current bank account

View the car specs

Access the Showcase screen
(➤p. 6)

The car’s price

Purchase the highlighted car

Access the Options screen

Access the Circuit Select screen

Exit the game

Circuit Select Screen

Select a racing circuit to compete in.

Circuit Types

Each circuit consists of 1–8 races. There are three types of circuits to compete in:

Tournament

This circuit type is comprised of a number of races. At the
end of each race, points are awarded based on your finishing
position. At the conclusion of the last race, the driver with
the most points is declared the winner.

Knockout

This circuit type is also comprised of a number of races.
However, after each race, the last place finisher is eliminated
from the competition. The winner is declared through a
process of elimination.

High Stakes

The ultimate circuit. In High Stakes, it’s a one-on-one battle
with a catch. You must put your dream machine on the line
in a winner-take-all battle. You may only enter this circuit if
you own two cars.

NOTE:

Placing first in some tournaments will unlock a bonus car.

17

Access the Tier menu. Each tier
consists of 1–5 different race circuits.

View a complete account summary

Access the Garage screen

Access the Trophy Room

Access the Showroom (➤p. 16)

Click to select a circuit to race.
The Circuit screen appears

NOTE:

To begin, only the European Tour tier is accessible. Additional tiers are
unlocked by completing all circuits within the currently available tiers.

Circuit Racing Screen

The Circuit Racing screen contains valuable information about tour tracks, circuit
standings, and purse prizes.

NOTE:

As soon as a player pays the entry fee to a circuit with new tracks,
those tracks become available in all game modes.

Circuit Completion Awards

Players win medals for completing circuits and trophies for completing tiers.

❑

You have completed a Tournament Circuit when you have finished in one of the
top three positions. 1

ST

Place receives a Gold medal, 2

ND

Place a Silver, and 3

RD

Place

a Bronze. All places receive money with more going to higher-placing finishers.

❑

You have completed a Knockout Circuit when you have finished all races without
being eliminated. 1

ST

Place receives a Gold medal and all places receive money with

more going to higher-placing finishers.

18

The skill level of the circuit

View a complete account summary

View the current circuit standings

Access the Garage screen

Access the Trophy Room

Enter the Showroom (➤ p. 16)

The tracks that comprise the circuit

The cost to enter the circuit

Prize money

Race the circuit

❑

You have completed a High Stakes Circuit when you have finished in 1

ST

Place.

1

ST

Place receives a Gold medal and the loser’s car. 2

ND

place receives prize money.

❑

You have completed a tier when you have won a medal in all circuits of the tier.
The Trophy type (Gold, Silver, Bronze) is equal to the lowest denomination of
medal you receive.

❑

In all, there are 10 tiers and 30 circuits to compete in. You win when all 10 tiers
have been successfully completed.

❑

Players are free to re-enter tiers or circuits they have already completed to win
extra cash or upgrade their awards.

Garage Screen

Account

View a complete account summary.

Car Repair

Access the Repair Car screen (➤ p. 20.).

Upgrade

Access the Upgrade screen (➤ p. 20.).

Showcase

Access the Showcase screen (➤ p. 6.).

Transmission

Toggle between

AUTOMATIC and MANUAL transmissions.

A Manual transmission presents more of a challenge, but it
allows you to squeeze more performance out of your car.

Convertible

Toggle between

TOP UP/TOP DOWN.

Sell

Trade in your vehicle to accumulate some extra cash.

NOTE:

You can only sell a car if you have more than one in your garage.

19

Repair Car Screen

Regular maintenance for your vehicle allows you to stay competitive on the circuit.

Car Upgrades Screen

Purchase new upgrades to enhance your car’s performance.

20

View a complete account summary

Repair all body damage

Repair all engine damage

Repair all suspension damage

Repair all steering damage

Repair all damage

The car’s ratings

View a complete account summary

The upgrade description

The cost to purchase an upgrade

Vehicle ratings

Car Upgrade Options

Level 1

Lowers suspension and upgrades your tires for improved road
grip and handling.

Level 2

Improves aerodynamics to provide better handling and
reduces weight for quicker acceleration.

Level 3

Tunes engine for improved acceleration and top speed.
Upgrades brakes to reduce stopping distance.

A D D I T I O N A L G A M E M O D E S

SINGLE RACE MODE

Single Race mode allows one or two players to participate in one complete race. Take
this opportunity to learn the NFS: High Stakes tracks and discover the fastest route
to the finish line, including shortcuts that help you compete against faster cars.

If you’re just getting started, you can make driving easier in Single
races by turning ON Driving Assists.

Single Race Setup

Choose SINGLE RACE from the Race Type overlay, then configure your game at the
Main menu,menu, and click RACE.

HOT PURSUIT

Play as a thrill-seeking civilian on the open roads, but beware of the local law
enforcement authorities enforcing the speed limits as you race for the finish line.
Or try your luck as an officer of the law, and use any means necessary to take
down those who abuse the speed limit.

NOTE:

Not all cars are available in Hot Pursuit mode.

When the cops give chase:

❑

Whether you are pulled over by force or voluntarily, you’re busted. Valuable time
ticks off the clock while they detain you.

❑

After getting busted too many times (depending on how many laps you’re racing),
they’ll arrest you. If this happens, your game is over.

21

Don’t get overconfident. If you outrun the cops, they’ll call in
reinforcements with supercars that rival your machine.

When chasing a speeding car:

●

Press H to switch on your siren and lights. The speeder is now targeted for pursuit
and arrest.

●

Use the force of your vehicle to pull the offender over, or get in front of him and
press S to lay down the spike strip.

❑

If you are in Single Player Arcade mode, you can designate a cop as your
“wingman” and give him direct orders. The wingman acts as your partner,
helping you track down speeders.

●

To select a wingman: press W.

●

To direct him to set up a roadblock: press K after pressing W.

●

To direct him to throw down a spike strip: press S after pressing W. The faster
you catch a speeder, the more time you have to track down the next speeder.

The best way to stop a speeder is by getting in front of the car and
blocking its path.

Hot Pursuit Setup

Choose HOT PURSUIT from the Race Type overlay, then configure your game at the
Main Menu menu screen, and click RACE.

➫

To be the law, you must choose a pursuit vehicle from the Player Car screen.

HOT PURSUIT NOTE:

The FULL GRID option is not available on the Opponent

Car menu.

Race Types

NFS: High Stakes now offers three unique Hot Pursuit racing experiences.

Classic

The original Hot Pursuit mode. Play as either a cop team or
one of two racers. Your goal is to finish the race in first place.

Getaway

New to NFS: High Stakes, this is a race for survival. Play as
a racer and avoid the police for as long as possible or take
control of a cop team to put the speeding vehicle out of
action as quickly as possible.

22

Time Trap

Another new racing mode, “Time Trap” is the toughest
challenge of all. As a racer, you must complete the required
number of laps in a given time period. However, valuable
time ticks off with every ticket you receive. As a cop, you
must stop both racers from finishing the race before the timer
reaches zero.

❑

If you play as the racer and finish any mode in first place or successfully complete
a race, you win the “Most Wanted” award for that track. If you play as the police
and prevent both racers from finishing a race, you win the “Top Cop” award.

NOTE:

Become both “Most Wanted” and “Top Cop” in any one mode to unlock a
bonus car.

Multiplayer Hot Pursuit

A Two Player Hot Pursuit race offers a variety of play options. Play on opposite sides
of the law in a head-to-head confrontation or team up as police officers or speeders
against CPU-controlled opponents. Hot Pursuit can also be played over a TCP or IPX
network connection.

NOTE:

Single Player Hot Pursuit controller functions are not available in
Multiplayer mode.

KNOCKOUT MODE

Knockouts are single-elimination tournaments, beginning with eight competitors.
Following each 2-lap race, the last place car is eliminated from the Knockout. The
final race is a head-to-head battle between the two surviving cars.

❑

You can race in three types of Knockouts—

AMATEUR, PRO, or CHAMPION.

Pro and Champion Knockouts feature increasingly skilled competition and one or
more of the following factors applied to the track: Weather, Night/Day, Mirrored and
Forward/Backward.

Knockout Setup

Choose KNOCKOUT from the Race Type overlay, then configure your game at the Main
menu and click RACE.

NOTE:

All Location menu options are preset for a Knockout race.

23

NOTE:

The Opponent Car menu is not available because the remaining
Knockout entries are computer-generated based on the car class
you choose to race.

After a Race

An automatic replay appears, followed by the Race Summary screen after each race.
➤ Race Summary Screen on p. 15.

NOTE:

Place first in a Knockout to unlock a bonus track.

Multiplayer Knockouts

The Knockout continues as long as at least one human racer remains in contention.
Players eliminated from the Knockout can stay in the action by driving a
noncompetitive traffic vehicle.

TOURNAMENT MODE

A Tournament consists of a series of six races, each taking place on a different track.
Following a tournamentTournament race, check your position on the Tournament
Standings screen.

❑

You can race in three types of tournaments—

AMATEUR, PRO, or CHAMPION.

Pro and Champion Tournaments feature increasingly skilled competition and one
or more of the following factors applied to the track: Weather, Night/Day, Mirrored
and Forward/Backward.

Tournament Setup

Choose TOURNAMENT from the Race Type overlay, then configure your game at the
Main menu,menu, and click RACE.

NOTE:

You do not have the option to choose a track or number of laps because
Tournaments take place on pre-scheduled circuits, and they are always
four laps long.

NOTE:

The Opponent Car menu is not available because the remaining
Tournament entries are computer-generated based on the car class
you choose to race.

24

After a Race

An automatic replay appears, followed by the Race Summary screen after each race.
➤ Race Summary Screen on p. 15.

NOTE:

Place first in a Tournament to unlock a bonus car.

Multiplayer Tournaments

Multiplayer Tournaments consist of eight 2-lap races.

LOADING SAVED GAME FILES

Access the Load menu to load saved game files. From the Load menu, you can resume
Knockouts and Tournaments in progress, view replays, and race against your previous
performances.

➫

To access the Load menu, click LOAD from the Game Setup menu.

To load a file:
1. Click the type of file you want to load: REPLAYS, GHOSTS, KNOCKOUTS,

or TOURNAMENTS. The list of saved files appears.

2. Select the file you want to load, then click LOAD and get ready to race. As soon

as the file loads, you’re at the starting line for the next event.

To delete a file:
1. Click the type of file you want to delete REPLAYS, GHOSTS, KNOCKOUTS,

or TOURNAMENTS. The list of saved files appears.

2. Select the file you want to delete, then click DELETE. The file is deleted.

MULTIPLAYER RACING

Race head-to-head against a friend on one computer in Split Screen Arcade mode,
link two computers together for Modem and Serial link racing, connect up to eight
computers over a Network, or race against up to seven other players over the Internet.

NOTE:

If you have trouble establishing a link between computers, see the
enclosed Reference Card.

25

SPLIT SCREEN ARCADE RACES

Two players can race on one PC in Split Screen mode. Both players can share the
keyboard if necessary, but we recommend that one player use an alternate controller
such as a joystick for best results.

❑

In Split Screen mode, menus such as Player Car and Player Name have settings
for Player 1 and Player 2.

❑

In Split Screen mode, the Controls menu adds a column for Player 2’s controls.
The defaults are as follows (note that Player 1’s controls are different than they
are in Single Player mode):

ACTION

PLAYER 1

PLAYER 2

Steer left/right

j

/l

G

/D

Accelerate

i

R

Accelerate

i

R

Brake

k

F

Brake

k

F

Handbrake

f

Shift gears up/down

π

/r

A

/Z

Cycle camera views

K

Q

Horn (Siren in Hot Pursuit mode)

M

W

Look behind

h

E

Reset car

u

X

Lay spike strip (Hot Pursuit mode)

P

S

Cycle lights ON/HIGHBEAMS/OFF

L

Y

Look left/right

,

/.

C

/V

NOTE:

Hot Pursuit specialty controls are not available in Multiplayer modes.

NETWORK (IPX)

If you have access to an IPX network (LAN), you can host or join network games of
up to eight NFS: High Stakes drivers.

To begin a Network (IPX) race:
1. From the Game Setup menu, select CONNECT PLAYERS… The Connect Players

menu appears.

26

2. Select NETWORK (IPX). The current games list appears.

3. Choose CREATE GAME to host a Network game, or select a game from the current

games list and click JOIN GAME to be a client in a game.

❑

The host is prompted to enter a name and configure network settings for data
transfer and data updates.

❑

Choose

CLIENT/SERVER for network games with more than two players or

PEER-TO-PEER to optimize data transfer for two-player games.

❑

The Updates option configures data transfer over the network.

CONTROLLER

updates are best for fast, local area networks. POSITIONAL updates are better suited
for slow network connections.

4. Make your data choices, then click OK. The Multiplayer screen appears. (➤ p. 25.)

NETWORK (TCP)

If you have an IP address and access to a TCP network, you can link with up to eight
computers for multiplayer racing.

To begin a Network (TCP) race:
1. From the Game Setup menu, select CONNECT PLAYERS… The Connect Players

menu appears.

2. Select NETWORK (TCP), then choose to HOST or JOIN the game.

❑

The host is prompted to enter a name and configure network settings for data
transfer and data updates:updates.

❑

Choose

CLIENT/SERVER for network games with more than two players or

PEER-TO-PEER to optimize data transfer for two-player games.

❑

The Updates option configures data transfer over the network. CONTROLLER
updates are best for fast, local area networks.

POSITIONAL updates are better

suited for slow network connections.

❑

If you are joining a game, type the IP address of the host computer, then click OK.

3. Make your data choices, then click OK. The Multiplayer screen appears. (➤ p. 29.)

27

INTERNET

Connect to

www.earacing.com for EA’s beta release of it’s online matchmaking

service to connect players around the world. You must have a connection to the
Internet to access EARacing.com.

1. From the Game SetupMenu screen, select CONNECT PLAYERS. The Connect Players

menu appears.

2. Select EARACING ONLINE.

MODEM

Two computers can connect via modem for two player racing.

1. From the Game Setup menu, select CONNECT PLAYERS… The Connect Players

screen appears.

2. Select MODEM… Then choose whether to DIAL or ANSWER a call. The computer

that answers the call is the host.

❑

If you are making the call, type the modem number of the host computer, then
click OK.

3. If you are hosting the game, you must choose whether the game is PEER-TO-PEER

or CLIENT/SERVER and whether it has POSITIONAL UPDATES or

CONTROLLER

UPDATES, then click OK. The Multiplayer screen appears. (➤ p. 29.)

SERIAL LINK

In this mode, two PCs are linked via a serial cable for head-to-head action.

1. From the Game Setup menu, select CONNECT PLAYERS… The Connect Players

screen appears.

2. Select SERIAL... the Serial Connection menu appears.

3. Check the com port number displayed on the screen. If this is correct for your

serial cable, click CONNECT. The Multiplayer screen appears. (➤ p. 29.)

●

To cycle to the correct com port, click COM PORT.

28

MULTIPLAYER MAIN MENU

The Multiplayer Main menu is similar to the standard Main menu screen (➤ p. 4).
This is where you set up the race and chat with your opponents before you begin.

Although the host is responsible for setting up the multiplayer race, clients can
communicate their suggestions via the chat window.

●

To chat, type a message, then press e to send. The message, labeled by your
name, appears in the chat window.

●

Clients have minimal control on the Multiplayer screen. They may only configure
their cars and enter their names.

●

When a client is set to race, s/he clicks READY TO RACE. The red signal next to the
client’s name turns green indicating that s/he is good to go.

●

When all clients are ready, the host clicks RACE. The game loads, the computers
sync up, and the race starts.

29

Select a race type

Player name and car information

Select race options

Chat window

Chat box

Begin the race

H O T K E Y S

Pause race

s

Hide Pause menu

¡

Rotate Pause camera left/right

™

/¢

Stop Pause camera rotation

£

Toggle on-screen gauges (Player 1/Player 2) ON/OFF

∞

/§

Toggle rearview mirror ON/OFF

¶

Toggle music ON/OFF

•

Toggle sound FX ON/OFF

ª

Toggle cop scanner ON/OFF

º

Reduce/Expand window

–

/≠

30

CREDITS

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS

Development Director: Joel Lueders

Senior Development Director: Mike Mathisen

PRODUCTION

Producer: Mark Madland

Associate Producer: Mark Coates

Online Producer: Jim Edmonds

Assistant Producers: Ragnar Lindstrom,

John Petrick, Brian Taney

Production Assistant: Alex Pantelias

Executive Producer: Sam Nelson

Senior Producer: Hanno Lemke

PROGRAMMING

Lead Programmer: Sam Deasy

Programmers: Peter Andrew, Dan Berke,

Doug Deardorff, Greg D’Esposito,
John Fawcett, Jim Hall,
Michael Lankerovich, Gordon Ludlow,
Wes Potter, Anne Sullivan, Chuck Walters,
Ted Zuvich

ARTISTS

Senior Art Adviser: David Bollesen

Lead UI Artist: Dave McCormack

Lead Track Artist: Jim Tibbitts

Lead Car and Cockpit Artist: Ryan Blinsky

Artists: Andrew Baker, James Becker,

Jeff DuLong, Kevin Gee, Layne Gifford,
Harley Howe, Phil Howe, Jeff Hydorn,
Rob Johnson, Razvan Neagu,
Jason Rappaport, Kevin Ring,
Drew Robertson, Aaron Rose,
Stefan Schwartz, Scott Thurman,
Eugene Wong, Robert Adams,
Eduardo Agostini, Sheila Allan,
Garth Buzzard, Simon Craghead, Paul Goad,
Curtis Hoines, Laurie Kindiak,
Anthony Leonati, Robert Sculnick

QA

QA Coordinator: Caesar Filori

QA Lead: Mike Cody

QA Assistant Leads: John Largis, Josh Reynolds

QA Testers: DaYve Blumberg, Jesse Brocksmith,

Kristine Bryan, Allen Burkhart, Tony Case,
Brian DeVerter , David Drury Allen,
J Galloway, Michael Gills, Joseph Keating,
Ed Miller, Shawn I. Neal, Henry Pak,
Blair Peters, Kate Powell, Raul Rodriguez,
Diana Schiefelbein, Jonny Steward,
Patrick Swift, Tim Zoch

QA Technician: Justin Phipps

QA Mastering: Wyeth Orestes Johnston

AUDIO

Lead Audio: Robert Ridihalgh

Sound Design Seattle: Jay Weinland,

Matt Ragan, Robert Ridihalgh,
Alistair Hirst

Sound Design Vancouver: Crispin Hands,

Saki Kaskas, Andy Teal, Rom Di Prisco

Music Compositions: Rom Di Prisco,

Saki Kaskas, Crispin Hands,
Robert Ridihalgh

Mix Engineer: Hiwatt Marshall

Music Consultants: The Forster Brothers for

Tuff Break Entertainment

Music Editing and Mastering: Rom Di Prisco

Speech Engineer and Senior Editor:

Jennifer Lewis

Speech Editors: Olo, Phil Giborski, Lori Wilson,

Jeremy Cook

Audio Libraries: Iain Macanulty, Dave Mercier

Speech Scripts and Layouts: Robert Ridihalgh,

Mark Coates, Brooke Burgess, Tony Whitney

Music Licensing: Beverly Koeckeritz

Music Supervisor: Jonnie Forster

Special Thanks: EARS Hitmen group working

on PGA for supplying us with a ton of trees.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Manual Writers: Anthony Lynch, Jamie Poolos

Web Development and Design: Scott Zimbler

Public Relations: Jeane Wong

Product Manager: Peter Royea

Photography: Diego Cassetta, Rob Newell,

Benedict Redgrove, Werner Deisenroth –
Sirius Studios

Localization Producers: Gaar Lindstrom,

Serena Whitters, Arlaine Walker

Licensing Coordinators: Mark Coates,

Joel Lueders, Serena Whitters

Opening Video Sequence:

Equinoxe Digital Entertainment

Graphic Artists: SHEN Technologies

Customer Quality Control: Michael Parker,

Benjamin Crick, Anatol Somerville,
Jacob Fernandez

© Chet Hanchett/ Panoramic Images, Chicago 1998

© First Light/ Panoramic Images, Chicago 1998

31

W A R R A N T Y I N F O R M A T I O N

Need Technical Support? Please see the enclosed Reference Card for technical support information.

Need Gameplay Help? Call EA’s HINTS & INFORMATION HOTLINE for recorded hints, tips, and passwords 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week!

In the US, dial 900-288-HINT (4468). 95c per minute.
In CANADA, dial 900-451-4873. $1.15 (Canadian) per minute.

If you are under 18, be sure to get a parent’s permission before calling. Hotline requires a touch-tone telephone. Call
length determined by user; average length is four minutes. Messages subject to change without notice.

In

Australia: For Technical Support and Game Hints and Tips, phone the EA HOTLINE: [phone]

($1.50 per min.) CTS 7 days a week 10AM-8PM.
If you are under 18 years of age parental consent required.

ELECTRONIC ARTS LIMITED WARRANTY

Electronic Arts ("EA") warrants to the original purchaser that this product is free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase. Electronic Arts is not liable for any losses or
damages of any kind resulting from the use of this product. If the product is found to be defective within the 90-
day warranty period, Electronic Arts agrees to repair or replace the product at its option free of charge.

This warranty shall not be applicable and shall be void if the defect in the product is found to be as a result of abuse,
unreasonable use, mistreatment or neglect.

LIMITATIONS

This warranty is in place of all other warranties and no other representations or claims of any nature shall be binding
on or obligate Electronic Arts. Any implied warranties applicable to this product, including warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are limited to 90-day period described above. In no event will
Electronic Arts be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from possession, use, or
malfunction of this Electronic Arts software product.

Some states do not allow limitation as to how long an implied warranty lasts and/or exclusions or limitations of
incidental or consequential damages so the above limitations and/or exclusions of liability may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific rights, and you may also have other rights that vary from state to state.

RETURNS WITHIN 90 DAY WARRANTY PERIOD—Please return the product along with a copy of the original
sales receipt, showing the date of purchase, a brief description of the difficulty you are experiencing including your
name, address, and phone number to the address below. If the product was damaged through misuse or accident,
this 90-day warranty is rendered void and you will need to follow the instructions for returns after the 90-day
warranty period.
We recommend that you send your product using a delivery method that is traceable.

RETURNS AFTER THE 90-DAY WARRANTY PERIOD—Please return the product along with a check or money
order for $7.50 made payable to Electronic Arts, a brief description of the difficulty you are experiencing including
your name, address, and phone number to the address below.
We recommend that you send your product using a delivery method that is traceable.
Electronic Arts Customer Warranty
P.O. Box 9025
Redwood City, California 94063-9025
If you have warranty questions, you can also contact Customer Warranty via e-mail at [e-mail] or by
phone at [phone].

32

NOTICE

Electronic Arts reserves the right to make improvements in the product described in this manual at any time and
without notice.

This manual and the software described in this manual are copyrighted. All rights are reserved. No part of this
manual or the described software may be copied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or
machine-readable form without the prior written consent of Electronic Arts.

Software and documentation © 1999 Electronic Arts. All rights reserved.

Need For Speed, Electronic Arts, and the Electronic Arts logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic
Arts in the U.S. and/or other countries. All rights reserved.

Aston Martin DB7 used under license from Aston Martin Lagonda Limited.

BMW, Z3, and M5 are trademarks of BMW AG. BMW car materials (c) 1999 BMW AG. All rights reserved.

Ferrari, Ferrari F50 and Ferrari 550 Maranello, all associated logos, and the Ferrari F50 and Ferrari 550 Maranello
distinctive designs are trademarks of Ferrari S.p.A.

Chevrolet, Corvette, Camaro, Z28, Firebird, T/A, Caprice, Pontiac, Emblems and Vehicle Model Body designs are
General Motors Trademarks used under license to Electronic Arts Inc.

The word "Jaguar", the leaping cat device and the character "XKR" are trademarks of JAGUAR CARS LTD., ENGLAND
and are used under license.

Automobili Lamborghini, Diablo SV, and all associated logos are trademarks of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

McLaren, McLaren F1 GTR, and all associated logos are trademarks of McLaren Cars N.V.

"Mercedes", "Mercedes Benz", "CLK" and "SLK" are trademarks of Daimler-Benz AG.

Licensed from Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG under certain Patents. "Porsche" and "911" are registered Trademarks of
Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG.

Lister and Lister Storm are trademarks of LISTER. Some images of the Lister Storm © 1998 LISTER. All rights
reserved.

Scighera, ITALDESIGN, and all associated logos are trademarks of ITALDESIGN S.p.A. All rights reserved.

Spectre, Spectre R42 and Spectre R45 are trademarks of SPECTRE. Some images of the Spectre R42 and the Spectre
R45 © 1998 SPECTRE. All rights reserved.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.